Written Answers

Thursday 2 March 2000

Scottish Executive

Children

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to improve the road crossing skills of primary school children.

Sarah Boyack: Local authorities have a duty under the Road Traffic Act 1988 to carry out a programme of measures designed to promote road safety. This includes giving practical training to road users where authorities consider this appropriate.

  The Scottish Executive provides funding to the Scottish Road Safety Campaign to enable it to produce and distribute to local authorities road safety education resources aimed at children of all ages. These include Smart Moves, a multimedia resource intended for children aged between 10 and 14 years old. This focuses on safer routes to school and aims to develop decision-making and risk assessment skills and a positive attitude to personal safety and responsibility.

  The Executive recognises the need for co-ordinated action working towards greater safety for children travelling to school. Accordingly, guidance was issued recently to local authorities and to every school in Scotland on how to run Safer Routes to School schemes.

  The Executive also funds the Children’s Traffic Club in Scotland, which offers free road safety education to all three- and four-year-old children in Scotland.

  A manual, entitled Kerbcraft, was issued by the UK Government in 1997 to all Road Safety Units in the United Kingdom. The manual, which provides guidance to enable adult volunteers to train children aged five to seven years old in basic pedestrian skills, is based on the results of a successful pilot project in Glasgow. The Government is also funding a study to explore the effectiveness of computer simulation for the training of five- to ten-year-old pedestrians.

Education

Cathy Peattie (Falkirk East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in the development of anti-racist education since the publication of the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry Report and whether it will include a provision to promote equality of opportunity in the Standards in Scotland’s Schools etc. Bill.

Peter Peacock: Increasing social inclusion and tolerance is already an important aim for all schools. To help schools evaluate of their practice in combating discrimination and achieving equality of opportunity, HMI and South Ayrshire Council together published, in February 1999, A Route to Equality and Fairness: a self evaluation guide using performance indicators .

  The Executive will shortly be funding a project aimed at providing all teaching staff with materials to support more effective delivery of anti-racism education.

Elderly People

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to support Glasgow City Council in meeting the needs of its older citizens.

Iain Gray: The local government settlement for 2000-01 provides for the City of Glasgow Council to increase its revenue expenditure to around £1.1 billion. Older people in Glasgow will benefit from a significant proportion of these resources through a range of services.

Employment

Ms Margaret Curran (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab): To ask the First Minister what measures are being taken to increase the employment opportunities of those in Scotland’s most disadvantaged areas.

Donald Dewar: We are committed to promoting social justice and equality of opportunity for everyone in Scotland, and this includes increasing the employment rates of groups that are disadvantaged in the labour market.

  We now have a network of 47 Social Inclusion Partnerships tackling social exclusion in disadvantaged communities and groups across rural and urban Scotland, many of which have a strong focus on employment, skills development and economic development.

Enterprise

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much inward investment has been attracted to the Scottish Borders by Locate in Scotland for the years 1996-97, 1997-98, 1998-99 and 1999-2000 and what it estimates the figure will be for 2000-01.

Henry McLeish: In the Scottish Borders Enterprise area between 1996 and 1999, Locate in Scotland was involved in expansion projects by Mainetti and Viasystems.

  In the current financial year, the following projects which have been attracted to the Scottish Borders Enterprise area have been announced:

  


Company

  

Jobs

  

Date 

  of Announcement

  



Mainetti

  

100

  

June 

  1999

  



Manpower

  

60

  

July 

  1999

  



Allflex

  

40

  

October 

  1999

  



  Locate in Scotland does not produce estimated figures for individual areas.

Environment

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what role Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) plays in relation to the designation of land as a Special Protection Area and whether, in carrying out that role, SNH must observe and fulfil the duties imposed upon it by section 3 of the Natural Heritage (Scotland) Act 1991, in particular the duty to have regard to the needs of agriculture, fisheries and forestry and social and economic development in Scotland or any part thereof.

Sarah Boyack: In its role as adviser to Scottish Ministers on natural heritage matters, Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) advises on the scientific case for classifying Special Protection Areas (SPA). SNH staff carry out consultations on behalf of the Scottish Executive with relevant stakeholders in proposed SPAs, and report on the outcome.

  Case law in the European Court of Justice has established that member states cannot take account of socio-economic considerations in identifying SPAs and in defining their boundaries.

European Convention on Human Rights

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the provisions of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 1976 (as amended) are compatible with the European Convention on Human Rights within the meaning of section 1 of the Human Rights Act 1998 and, if not, what plans it has to amend the 1976 Act.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the provisions of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 (as amended), relating to the licensing and regulation of taxis and private hire cars are compatible with the European Convention on Human Rights within the meaning of section 1 of the Human Rights Act 1998 and, if not, what plans it has to amend the 1982 Act.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the provisions of section 41 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 (as amended) relating to the granting of public entertainment licences are compatible with the European Convention on Human Rights within the meaning of section 1 of the Human Rights Act 1998 and, if not, what plans it has to amend the 1982 Act.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the provisions of the Legal Aid (Scotland) Act 1986 (as amended) are compatible with the European Convention on Human Rights within the meaning of section 1 of the Human Rights Act 1998 and, if not, what plans it has to amend the 1986 Act.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the provisions of Part VIII of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 (as amended), relating to the repair and maintenance of buildings, powers of entry to buildings, the execution of works on buildings and the recovery of expense incurred executing works on buildings are compatible with the European Convention on Human Rights within the meaning of section 1 of the Human Rights Act 1998 and, if not, what plans it has to amend the 1982 Act.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the powers currently exercised by police officers to search persons and property and to detain and arrest persons are compatible with the European Convention on Human Rights within the meaning of section 1 of the Human Rights Act 1998 and, if not, what plans it has to amend the law covering such powers.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has carried out or intends to carry out a review of the legislation relating to the operation of the prison system to determine whether (a) the procedures relating to the detention of prisoners in young offenders institutions and prisons, (b) the rights and privileges accorded to such prisoners, (c) the disciplinary procedures relating to such prisoners and (d) the procedure for dealing with applications for releasing such prisoners on parole and licence, are compatible with the European Convention on Human Rights within the meaning of section 1 of the Human Rights Act 1998 and, if so, whether it will publicise the findings of any such review.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to carry out a review as to whether the legislation currently in force relating to the education of children is compatible with the European Convention on Human Rights within the meaning of section 1 of the Human Rights Act 1998 and, if so, whether it will publicise the findings of any such review.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the provisions of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1997 (as amended) are compatible with the European Convention on Human Rights within the meaning of section 1 of the Human Rights Act 1998 and, if not, what plans it has to amend the 1997 Act.

David McLetchie (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the statutory procedures laid down in Part II of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 for the preparation and approval of development plans are compatible with the European Convention on Human Rights within the meaning of section 1 of the Human Rights Act 1998 and, if not, what plans it has to amend the 1997 Act.

David McLetchie (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the statutory procedures laid down in Part III of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 for the determination of applications for planning permission by local planning authorities and the Scottish Ministers are compatible with the European Convention on Human Rights within the meaning of section 1 of the Human Rights Act 1998; if not, which provisions of Part III of the 1997 Act are incompatible with the Convention and what plans it has to amend the Act.

Mr Jim Wallace: We are systematically reviewing all of our activities to identify issues where there is a risk of ECHR challenge. If we believe it is necessary to amend existing legislation in order to comply with the Convention, then we will bring forward proposals for that purpose at the appropriate time.

Fisheries

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to secure access to international blue whiting for the Scottish fleet.

Mr John Home Robertson: Access to international blue whiting fisheries is established following negotiations between the EU and other coastal states, most notably Norway under the aegis of the North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC). Recent years have seen a considerable and unsustainable increase in effort on this fishery by non-EU countries, with the EC maintaining conservation measures to limit access.

  It would be wrong to reward such unsustainable "olympic" fishing by establishing a related track record.

  In view of this situation, at the December Fisheries Council, Ministers reserved their position on blue whiting, stating in the Council minutes "the Council and Commission will revert to this issue, as appropriate, if negotiations in NEAFC in early 2000 do not result in efficient regulatory measures for the fishing of blue whiting in the Regulatory Area".

  Scottish Executive officials have been fully involved in formulating the current EU negotiating position, and the EU team is well aware of the importance to the Scottish pelagic fleet of continued access to this fishery.

Fisheries

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has been made aware by Her Majesty's Government of any plans regarding reorganisation of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which impact on the fisheries division of its Rural Affairs Department and, if so, what this impact will be.

Mr John Home Robertson: I am not aware of any such plans.

Fisheries

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will respond to the recent report by the Scientific Technical and Economic Fisheries Committee on the effectiveness of the European Union’s multi-annual guidance programmes on the preservation of fish stocks and what its views are on this policy.

Mr John Home Robertson: The Scottish Executive fully supports the aim of the multi-annual guidance programmes, which is to ensure sustainability of fishing by balancing fishing capacity against resource availability. That is in the long-term interests of our industry, as is the important principle of relative stability.

  The multi-annual programmes are Europe-wide initiatives and the Committee's report needs to be considered, along with other relevant issues, at that level. The Scottish Executive will continue to be fully involved in such discussions, including on any successor arrangements to the current multi-annual guidance programme.

Fisheries

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to make representations to Her Majesty's Government about the impact which proposals to increase Marine Survey fees for the second time in less than a year will have on the Scottish fishing fleet.

Mr John Home Robertson: The proposed increase would comprise, I understand, the second increase over a period of more than three years to reflect inflation and the economic costs of conducting marine surveys.

  The added costs to individual vessel owners arising out of the proposed increase would be negligible. There would seem to be no case for survey costs to the industry to be subsidised by the taxpayer. On that basis, the Scottish Executive does not intend to make representations to DETR regarding the proposals.

Fuel Poverty

Mr John McAllion (Dundee East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what specific steps it is taking or intends to take to tackle fuel poverty during this session of the Parliament.

Mr Frank McAveety: We are tackling fuel poverty through the Warm Deal where we are spending nearly £40 million over four years; through New Housing Partnerships, which have funding of £333 million over three years; through local authority capital expenditure programmes and through housing association improvement programmes.

Fuel Poverty

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the reasons are for the delay by Scottish Homes in completing analysis of fuel poverty from the Housing Condition Survey 1996, what interim results are currently available and what the target date is for completion and publication of this work.

Mr Frank McAveety: There is no delay. Scottish Homes are ensuring that the analysis gives a full and accurate account of fuel poverty in Scotland. No date has been set for completion of the exercise. There are no firm interim results.

Health

Ms Margo MacDonald (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether Lothian University Hospitals’ Trust have informed it of any adjustment to the levels of service which will be required to eliminate or minimise the projected overspend of £5 million.

Susan Deacon: Lothian University Hospitals NHS Trust has not made any adjustment to the level of service provided to patients in response to its projected financial position. Action is being taken to further reduce infrastructure and overhead costs, including management costs, to address the projected overspend. These actions will not impact on the level of healthcare delivered to patients.

Health

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to ensure equalisation of waiting times, across all specialities, within NHS Trusts and health boards.

Iain Gray: We are currently working with the NHS in Scotland to establish national maximum waiting times, to be delivered from March 2001, in the key clinical specialties of heart disease, cancer and mental health. In addition, the introduction of instant appointment booking systems, the establishment of additional one-stop clinics and the redesign of services to improve the patient pathway, will tackle inequity and reduce waiting times.

Health

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients with multiple sclerosis are currently receiving beta interferon treatment, broken down by area health board.

Susan Deacon: As of December 1999, 181 patients with multiple sclerosis were receiving beta interferon treatment in Scotland.

  This information is given on a national basis in order not to disclose information that may relate to an individual patient.

Health

Mr Duncan Hamilton (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-4029 by Susan Deacon on 11 February 2000, how many (a) trainee Medical Laboratory Scientific Officers (MLSOs), (b) MLSO1s and (c) MLSO2s are currently employed in each health board and how many vacancies there are in each of these categories in each health board.

Susan Deacon: The latest available information is shown in the table below. Vacancy information is not available centrally.

  MLSOs employed in the NHS in Scotland by Health Board and Grade

  Headcount as at 30 September 1998

  

 

Number

  
 
 


 

Trainee

  

Grade 1

  

Grade 2

  



Scotland

  

47

  

1,106

  

467

  



Ayrshire & Arran

  

1

  

44

  

30

  



Borders

  

-

  

15

  

6

  



Argyll & Clyde

  

1

  

72

  

39

  



Fife

  

-

  

38

  

14

  



Greater Glasgow

  

15

  

306

  

113

  



Highland

  

-

  

32

  

20

  



Lanarkshire

  

3

  

101

  

43

  



Grampian

  

1

  

75

  

31

  



Lothian

  

16

  

140

  

64

  



Tayside

  

3

  

88

  

33

  



Forth Valley

  

2

  

55

  

14

  



Western Isles

  

-

  

-

  

3

  



CSA

  

-

  

113

  

42

  



Dumfries & Galloway

  

5

  

27

  

14

  



Shetland

  

-

  

-

  

1

  



Orkney

  

-

  

-

  

-

  



  Source: National Manpower Statistics from payroll, ISD Scotland

Health

Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish details of the new self-insurance arrangements for the National Health Service.

Susan Deacon: The National Health Service in Scotland has been kept informed of the development and arrangements for the new financial risk-sharing scheme for clinical negligence and certain categories of non-clinical risk. The most recent was Management Executive Letter (1999) 86 issued on 21 December.

  Fuller details will be provided by Regulations, which will be accompanied by the issue of a further Management Executive Letter in early April.

Health

Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there will be a separate NHS self-insurance fund for Scotland.

Susan Deacon: The new financial risk-sharing arrangements due for implementation on 1 April 2000 will be for Scotland only.

  Similar schemes are already operational in England and Wales and began on 1 April 1995 and 1 April 1996 respectively.

Health

Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what consultations took place on the NHS self-insurance fund.

Susan Deacon: A cross-Service Review Group was convened to consider the need and potential for future risk pooling arrangements. Additionally, members of this Group consulted further with their respective service representative groups.

  The Service has been kept informed of the plans to introduce the new arrangement through Management Executive Letters and reports to the key interest groups.

Health

Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the new NHS self-insurance fund will have on staff and patients with claims against the National Health Service.

Susan Deacon: The primary purpose of the scheme is to enhance existing financial risk-sharing arrangements and to improve risk management performance. The introduction from 1 April 2000 of the new financial risk-sharing arrangements for clinical negligence awards and certain categories of non-clinical risk will not change the way in which staff and patients pursue claims against the National Health Service in Scotland.

Health

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many healthy limbs have been amputated as an element of medical or psychiatric treatment in each year since 1990 and how many men and women suffer from body dysmorphic disorder.

Susan Deacon: BDD is a very rare condition and, as such, it is not possible to extract information about it from data routinely collected by Information and Statistics Division. However, a recent survey carried out by the Chief Medical Officer, of NHS Trusts in Scotland, has confirmed that no amputations of healthy limbs have been carried out in Scotland, other than the two cases identified recently at Falkirk and District Royal Infirmary.

Industry

Scott Barrie (Dunfermline West) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what its plans are for improving support for Scottish manufacturing.

Henry McLeish: Manufacturing industry plays a vital role in the Scottish economy, both as a direct employer and indirectly as a customer for services. The Scottish Executive recognises that the manufacturing sector in Scotland, as in the rest of the UK, faces intense global competition and that its future depends on it becoming more competitive, more innovative and more responsive to the needs of the marketplace. Manufacturing needs to take its rightful place as part of the knowledge-driven economy of the future. The Executive is determined to support manufacturers in achieving this.

  Last June I announced in Parliament that we would be consulting business leaders, trade associations and trade unions to help us develop a way forward for manufacturing. Today we are publishing the results of this work in a report entitled Created In Scotland - The Way Forward for Scottish Manufacturing in the 21st Century. The report describes the great strides forward many firms have made towards improving their performance and how the Executive, in partnership with the UK Government, is committed to improving public support. We shall make improvements in the business environment to minimise overheads on business. We shall encourage acceleration of the use of knowledge and technology to help manufacturers keep pace with new developments. We shall improve the links between the science base and companies to enhance commercialisation of new ideas. We shall enhance skills and training to help the workforce keep pace with developments. Lastly we intend to draw up a campaign to raise the image of the manufacturing sector.

  Created in Scotland makes reference to the need for improvement in dealing with potential and actual redundancies, and today we are also publishing a best practice guide entitled Partnership Action for Continuing Employment (PACE). This report results from a wide-ranging consultation exercise with practitioners and other interested parties and identifies a number of proactive methods for dealing with potential and actual company difficulties. PACE does not set out to provide a detailed and prescriptive plan for local agencies, instead it provides a checklist of issues to be considered, a summary of best practice experience, and a toolkit of possible responses which can be adapted and tailored to suit local circumstances. It is vital that all key agencies work together to ensure a coherent and consistent approach to potential and actual job loss and closure announcements across Scotland.

  Copies of the two documents are available in SPICe and on the Scottish Executive website.

Legislation

Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will set out the legal position on the use of barbed and razor wire on the boundaries of residential properties.

Mr Jim Wallace: There is no law which expressly governs the use of barbed wire or razor wire. Property owners have the right to take reasonable means to protect their property and prevent damage. This may include the building of walls and fences.

  However, the owner or person in control of property owes a duty of care even to trespassers if their presence is reasonably foreseeable. The owner may be liable to pay damages to people injured through his negligence.

Local Authorities

Scott Barrie (Dunfermline West) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in supporting best practice and best value in local authority service delivery.

Mr Frank McAveety: The Best Value Task Force published its final report on 10 December. We are considering the recommendations and intend to report soon. In the interim the Scottish Executive have continued to work in partnership with CoSLA, the Accounts Commission, the various Inspectorates and all of Scotland’s local authorities to help develop and promote improved service delivery.

Local Government Finance

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what impact there will be on the Glasgow economy if Glasgow City Council implement planned expenditure savings of £10 million in financial year 2000-01.

Mr Jack McConnell: It is a matter for Glasgow City Council to determine its own spending priorities. The Council’s expenditure guideline for 2000-01 has increased by 2.8% or £28 million to £1,053 million and its Aggregate External Finance has increased by 2.9% or £23 million to £830 million.

Local Government Finance

Bill Aitken (Glasgow) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to alleviate any hardship caused to East Dunbartonshire Council by the £12.3 million cut in its funding over the next three years.

Mr Jack McConnell: We have no plans to cut East Dunbartonshire Council’s funding by £12.3 million over the next three years. The council’s grant allocation for future years will be determined in the normal way in consultation with CoSLA.

Local Government Finance

Bill Aitken (Glasgow) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether its education expenditure assessment to East Dunbartonshire Council for 2000-01 is a cut in real terms of 2.35% (£1.4 million) and whether it will take steps to reassess these figures with a view to restoring it to its previous level.

Mr Jack McConnell: The education expenditure assessment for East Dunbartonshire Council for 2000-01, as measured by Grant-Aided Expenditure, has increased, not fallen, compared to the current year. Expressed in real terms, using the September 1999 Retail Price Index, the Council’s education GAE has risen by 2.7%.

Migration

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have left the Scottish Borders since 1998.

Mr Jim Wallace: The latest, mid-1998, population estimates published by the Registrar General estimate net migration gain to the Scottish Borders of 360 in the year ending 30 June 1998. The Registrar General intends to publish mid-1999 population estimates, including estimates of migration, for Scotland and its administrative areas in April 2000.

Pets

Kay Ullrich (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to implement a pilot scheme along the lines of the Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) Passport Pilot Scheme which will be implemented in England from 28 February 2000, and what plans it has to implement a full PETS Passport Scheme as is scheduled to be implemented in England from around April 2001.

Ross Finnie: I have written individually to all MSPs advising them of the introduction of the pilot scheme and that legislation will be introduced to enable the full scheme to operate in Scotland in 2001.

Police

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many police officers were on duty during the protest at the Faslane Nuclear Base on 14 February 2000 and how much this police presence cost.

Mr Jim Wallace: During the protest 174 police officers were deployed. The operation was policed by officers rostered to be on duty and the costs were met from the Chief Constable’s operational budget.

Police

Mr Gil Paterson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of police officers have specialist training in dealing with victims of rape and domestic abuse and what percentage of these are female, and what measures it is taking to ensure that specialist training of all police officers is a national provision within police forces from the time of recruitment and as part of ongoing professional development.

Mr Jim Wallace: Approximately 11% of police officers in Scotland, including detectives, are specially trained in dealing with victims of rape and 50% of those trained are women. It is more difficult to quantify those specially trained to deal with domestic abuse but all operational officers receive training in recognising and dealing with domestic violence and all forces are actively trying to raise awareness of domestic violence.

  80% of training is provided on a national basis by the Scottish Police College, and awareness training on rape and domestic abuse is incorporated into many of the courses they run, including probationer training. Local forces supplement the national training with a wide range of local courses. Training needs are regularly reviewed by the Scottish Executive and the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland.

Police

Tricia Marwick (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has had any consultation with the police over its decision to give the power of inspection of orange badges to them and to make it an offence not to produce an orange badge on request.

Sarah Boyack: The Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland was previously consulted about these measures as part of a UK-wide consultation exercise on overhauling road traffic regulation law.

Social Inclusion

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the net expenditure savings of £10 million planned by Glasgow City Council for 2000-01 will aid or hinder the city in achieving its social inclusion objectives.

Mr Jack McConnell: It is a matter for Glasgow City Council to determine its own spending priorities and how it delivers its social inclusion objectives. The Council’s expenditure guideline for 2000-01 has increased by 2.8% or £28 million to £1,053 million and its Aggregate External Finance has increased by 2.9% or £23 million to £830 million.

Student Finance

Mr John Swinney (North Tayside) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated income is from the Graduate Endowment in each of the first five years of its collection.

Henry McLeish: It is proposed the student support and the Graduate Endowment scheme will apply to Scottish domiciled (and EU) students entering higher education in Scotland in 2001-02 onwards. Liability to make a contribution will commence on graduation and collection will be income contingent.

  Based on the numbers of students liable to make a contribution it is estimated that, when fully operational, £16 million would be contributed to the Scottish Budget each year in resource accounting terms. The actual numbers and level of contribution in each year will depend on a) changes in the size of the student population; b) the proportion of people taking degrees, HNC/HNDs, in exempt categories; c) graduate earnings which will effect the rate of repayment and d) and the total amount of loan taken out by students.

  Modelling on the flow of income is to being undertaken. The treatment of income in terms of the Scottish Budget will require to be agreed with the National Audit Office.

Student Finance

Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what guarantees it will give over the future of Postgraduate Diploma funding and what discussion it has had with university students and student bodies over this matter.

Henry McLeish: I received a report on the Postgraduate Students' Allowances Scheme in November last year which made a number of recommendations to change the current system following a review by the Miller Committee. The review took evidence from a wide range of organisations, including the NUS who also had an observer working with the Committee. The report was given to the Cubie inquiry which also made a number of recommendations in this area. We are now considering these and will consult further as appropriate. There will be no change in the current system of funding for 2000-01.

Student Finance

Mr John Swinney (North Tayside) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to collect the Graduate Endowment from graduates who were classed as EU students when studying at higher education institutions.

Henry McLeish: It is proposed that Scottish domiciled and EU students who graduate from a Scottish institution will be liable for student support and the Graduate Endowment. The detail of the arrangements is currently being considered and will be subject to consultation and approval by Parliament.

Student Finance

Mr John Swinney (North Tayside) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what estimated income will be from Graduate Endowment from graduates who were classed as EU students when studying at higher education institutions in the first five years of its collection.

Henry McLeish: It is proposed the student support and the Graduate Endowment scheme will apply to Scottish domiciled and EU students entering higher education in Scotland in 2001-02 onwards. Liability to make a contribution will commence on graduation and collection will be income contingent.

  Based on current numbers of EU students graduating from Scottish institutions, it is estimated that, when fully operational, £1 million would be contributed to the Scottish Budget each year in resource accounting terms. The actual numbers and level of contribution in each year will depend on (a) changes in the size of the EU student population; (b) graduate earnings which will affect the rate of repayment and (c) system used for the collection of the liability from graduates whose domicile is not Scotland but other parts of the EU.

  Modelling on the flow of income is being undertaken. The treatment of income in terms of the Scottish Budget will require to be agreed with the National Audit Office.

Student Finance

Mr John Swinney (North Tayside) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether EU students who study for two years in their home country and then study a third and final year at a higher education institution, leaving with an ordinary degree, will be expected to contribute to the Graduate Endowment.

Henry McLeish: It is proposed that Scottish domiciled and EU students who graduate from a Scottish institution will be liable for student support and the Graduate Endowment. The detail of the arrangements is currently being considered and will be subject to consultation and approval by Parliament.

Student Finance

Mr John Swinney (North Tayside) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration has been given to the implications of the European Convention on Human Rights in relation to the payment of fourth year tuition fees by students from England, Wales and Northern Ireland studying at Scottish universities.

Henry McLeish: While this is a matter for the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, the Executive seeks appropriate advice on the legality of its own actions.

Student Finance

Mr John Swinney (North Tayside) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many full-time further education students paid tuition fees in the academic years 1998-99 and 1999-2000, how many of these paid the full fee, how many paid more than half the full fee, and how many paid less than half the full fee.

Henry McLeish: The Scottish Executive does not hold this information centrally. The Scottish Further Education Funding Council is currently collecting data on student numbers for academic year 1998-99, but not on levels of tuition fee paid.

Transport

Mr John Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to maintain the overnight rail freight service from the Highlands to London.

Sarah Boyack: The movement of freight is a commercial matter for the rail freight companies. Services are provided in response to demand.

Transport

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the ministerial statement by the Minister for Transport and the Environment on 7 October 1999, what steps are being taken to promote the safety of rail passengers.

Sarah Boyack: Railway safety is a reserved matter and safety standards are applied equally across the GB railway system. The Scottish Executive is nonetheless in regular contact with the various GB bodies responsible for rail safety.

Transport

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to extend the Rural Petrol Station Scheme to cover liquid petroleum gas.

Sarah Boyack: The Executive is currently considering information received from Highlands and Islands Enterprise about the possibility of extending the scope of the Rural Petrol Stations Grant Scheme to include as an eligible item of expenditure the cost of installing tanks and dispensers for the supply of liquid petroleum gas.

Transport

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive to provide details of Scotland’s import and export tonnage by (a) road, (b) rail, (c) sea and (d) air for the most recent year for which figures are available by Standard Industrial Classification Code for each local authority area.

Sarah Boyack: Figures are not available for import and export tonnage’s by Standard Industrial Classification or by local authority area.

  Statistics on the value of imports and exports by industry are published for Scotland as a whole in Scottish Economic Statistics, and in a quarterly News Release. Statistics on the total tonnage’s of freight carried to and from Scotland by certain modes of transport are published in Scottish Transport Statistics, in each case for groupings of the categories which are used to compile the statistics for that mode.

Transport

George Lyon (Argyll and Bute) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what was the total expenditure in the last financial year on trunk roads in Argyll and Bute, and whether it will make representations to Her Majesty's Government to detail the total income in the last financial year from road users in Argyll and Bute in order that a comparison can be made between the average income and expenditure per motorist in this area in the last financial year and between expenditure and income in percentage terms.

Sarah Boyack: Expenditure on trunk roads in Argyll and Bute in 1998-99 was approximately £3.9 million. Any comparison of average income and expenditure per motorist in Argyll and Bute would have to take account of all roads, ferry and other transport expenditure inside and outside of the area of benefit to Argyll and Bute motorists and would also require the disaggregation of all tax raised by place of residence. Such a calculation, if practicable, could only be undertaken at disproportionate cost.

Transport

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied that Midlothian Council met all statutory requirements in relation to public consultation on its proposals to construct the new A701 through the Edinburgh Green Belt.

Sarah Boyack: The responsibility for meeting all the statutory requirements in relation to public consultations on these proposals rests with Midlothian Council.

Transport

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether all documents submitted by Midlothian Council in its application to the Executive for permission to construct the A701 through the Edinburgh Green Belt are made available to the public and, if so, where, and whether it will outline the reasons for any restrictions in access.

Sarah Boyack: Relevant documents in relation to the Notice of Intention to Develop for the construction of the A701 are available at the public libraries in Roslin, Penicuik and Loanhead and at the council offices at Fairfield House, Dalkeith. There is no restriction on access to these documents.

Transport

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether all details of the outline business case for the A701 improvements were made available to the public during consultation at the planning stage.

Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive does not have details on the availability of documents to the public at stages prior to their submission to the Scottish Ministers.

Transport

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-2285 by Sarah Boyack on 22 November 1999, which of the documents referred to are available to the public and which are restricted and for what reasons.

Sarah Boyack: The documents relating to the outline bid for Transport Challenge Funding and the outline business case for upgrading of the A701 are not available to the public since these contain commercial in-confidence information. Relevant documents in relation to the Notice of Intention to Develop are available at the public libraries in Roslin, Penicuik and Loanhead and at the council offices at Fairfield House, Dalkeith.

Transport

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the outline business case for the A701 and details of the cost/benefit analysis of the multi-modal corridor will be made available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.

Sarah Boyack: It is for Midlothian Council to decide which documents are made available to the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.

Transport

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is any statutory obligation for Midlothian Council to put in place each of the public transport elements, including extra bus services, real time information and bus priority measures that formed a part of Midlothian Council’s original Private Finance Initiative based proposals to upgrade the A701.

Sarah Boyack: There are no statutory obligations on the Council to implement the original Private Finance Initiative based proposals. However, the Notice of Intention to Develop in respect of improvements to the A701, which was submitted to the Scottish Ministers, was accompanied by a statement by the Council which detailed measures to improve public transport and enhance bus services.

Transport

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive why it did not require Midlothian Council to undertake a full multi-modal corridor study prior to allowing the Council to proceed with the A701 project.

Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Ministers took the view that the proposals, which were in accord with the statutory development plan, did not merit call-in.

  The letter intimating this decision to Midlothian Council emphasised that the Scottish Ministers were aware that the Council is committed to pursuing other initiatives as part of a package of measures to improve transportation within and outwith Midlothian. The Scottish Ministers encouraged the Council to pursue these initiatives with a view to delivering a comprehensive and sustainable package of transport improvements as soon as possible.

Transport

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether details of alternatives to the proposed upgrading of the A701 and details of the cost benefit analysis of the project were made available during public consultation.

Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive does not have this information. These are matters for Midlothian Council.

Transport

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in relation to its proposals for the Integrated Transport Bill and specifically the proposals to enforce the provision of bus information, it will specify any costs to be incurred by local authorities and operators, whether any additional resources will be provided to local authorities and, if so, what these will be, and whether operators will be able to pass any increased costs on through increased fares.

Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive will legislate to place a duty on local authorities (or in the Strathclyde Passenger Transport area, the Passenger Transport Authority) to determine what bus information should reasonably be provided locally. Where agreement cannot be reached with operators to provide the required level of information, local authorities and the PTA will be able to provide such information and will have powers to recover reasonable costs from operators. No additional resources should be required by local authorities from the Executive and we would expect operators to recognise the commercial benefits of providing better information to the travelling public in terms of increased patronage and revenue generation.

Transport

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in relation to its proposals for the Integrated Transport Bill, any additional costs will be incurred by local authorities and operators with regard to joint ticketing arrangements and, if so, what additional resources will be provided or additional fares levied.

Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive expects bus operators to recognise the potential commercial benefits of the introduction of joint ticketing initiatives in terms of increased patronage and revenue generation. We would anticipate that such arrangements will lead to the introduction of pricing initiatives rather than any need for increases in fares. The Executive does not expect that its proposals will lead to resource implications for local authorities.

Transport

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in relation to its proposals for the Integrated Transport Bill, through ticketing will apply to all modes of transport including bus, ferry and rail and, if so, whether it will detail how the multi-modal system will operate.

Sarah Boyack: The Executive's legislative proposals relate to joint ticketing arrangements between bus operators in Scotland. The Executive is also working with transport operators and user groups to develop better through ticketing across modes to ensure the most attractive system and maximum flexibility for public transport users. There are many initiatives, either already in place or in preparation, and we shall consider how best to disseminate best practice in this field.

Transport

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what European Regional Development Fund funding will be available for rail in 2000-01 and whether it will detail any current and proposed funding applications.

Mr Jack McConnell: The new Single Programming Documents (SPD’s) for Highlands and Islands Special Programme and for the Objective 2 Programmes for West, East and South of Scotland require to be approved by the European Commission before any European Regional Development funding proposals can be put forward and considered.

  In line with the terms of the current regulations, major rail infrastructure investment in Scotland will not be eligible to receive European Regional Development Fund in the future. However, there may be some scope within new Programmes to support activities indirectly connected with rail investment which provide additional economic development outcomes.

Transport

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration has been given to any effect workplace parking charges will have on rural employment and employers located in non-urban areas and whether it will detail any anticipated job losses or financial effects.

Sarah Boyack: Our proposals for the Integrated Transport Bill, published on 10 February, state that the workplace parking levy is only likely to be appropriate for major urban centres and larger towns and where proposers can demonstrate that the scheme will achieve congestion benefits. The levy will therefore have no effect on rural employment and employers located in non-urban areas.

Transport

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive at what stage preparations are for grade separation at the Sheriffhall roundabout and whether it will detail the preparations.

Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive has no plans to introduce grade separation at the Sheriffhall roundabout.

Transport

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken or plans it has to promote improved journey times between Inverness and Aberdeen and whether it will directly or indirectly seek to promote and fund the creation of a loop at Orton between Keith and Elgin.

Sarah Boyack: Railtrack are currently improving infrastructure to reduce the journey time between Aberdeen and Inverness by 10 minutes by 2001. To meet the rail industry’s aspirations of an increased frequency and a further reduction in journey time, additional upgrading of the route would be necessary. I understand that Railtrack and Highlands and Islands Enterprise are considering funding options for a loop between Keith and Elgin, including the possibility of European Regional Development Funding under the Special Programme for the Highlands and Islands.

Transport

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many submissions regarding Tackling Congestion made reference specifically to the requirement that congestion charging meet the criteria of additionality; which submissions used the specific term "additionality" and when it first started using the term in that context.

Sarah Boyack: The information requested has not been collated by the Executive. The responses to Tackling Congestion are, however, available in the Parliament’s Information Centre. Additionality emerged as a key consideration, particularly for representatives of road users, during recent consultations on congestion charging.

Victim Support

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what services are available to men across Scotland who are the victims of sexual offences, whether as children or as adults, and whether it is satisfied that this service provision is adequate.

Mr Jim Wallace: The Scottish Executive funds Victim Support Scotland to provide practical and emotional support to all victims of crime. Specially trained volunteers provide specific help to victims of rape and sexual assault, irrespective of gender. All victims of violent crime are eligible to apply for Criminal Injuries Compensation.

  The Executive has given a firm commitment to support the victims of crime and is continuing to develop and improve the services for them.

Water Industry

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it plans to publish the consultation documents referred to in the recent ministerial statement on water charges.

Sarah Boyack: My statement on 26 January identified two areas affecting the water industry where the Executive intends to consult.

  The first is competition in the industry and how to ensure that it benefits customers, while public health, environmental and social objectives continue to be met. I plan to publish a consultation document on this in April.

  The second is the standards that the water authorities should meet during the period to be covered by the next strategic charges round to be carried out by the Water Industry Commissioner. These will eventually be published in the next Quality and Standards Paper. Prior to that the Executive will consult on them in draft form in the autumn.

  In addition, I said in my statement that the Executive is considering whether it can improve on the protection from the full impact of water and sewerage charges already provided to the less well off by the current arrangement linking charges to council tax banding. We plan to consult on this during the course of the summer.

Water Industry

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any assessment has been made of the impact which the proposed increases in water charges will have on the cost of living.

Sarah Boyack: The level of, and proposed increase in, water and sewerage charges depend on the council tax banding of a household’s property, and the water authority area within which the household is located. Water and sewerage charges are a relatively small element of household expenditure, and the overall effect on the cost of living is similarly small. Nevertheless, the Executive is concerned about the impact of charges on low-income households. It is considering whether there is any scope to improve on the protection already provided by the link between charge levels and council tax bands.

Water Industry

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many meetings the Minister for Transport and the Environment has had with the Water Commissioner since his appointment and when the next meeting is due to take place.

Sarah Boyack: I have had three meetings with Alan Sutherland since his appointment as Water Industry Commissioner for Scotland on 1 November 1999. I expect to have further meetings with him from time to time, but no date has been set yet for our next meeting.

Water Industry

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to seek the cancelling of debt in the water industry and, if so, what percentage of debt will it seek to write off.

Sarah Boyack: No.